Automatic fire-kindler.



Snwwtm o h n m M PATENTBD'MAY 12', 1903.

M. G HOFFMAN & J H. HIEB. AUTOMATIC FIRE KINDLER.

APPLICATION FILED 00 11, 1902 no MODEL.

UNTTED STATES Patented May 12, 1903,

PATENT GEFICE.

MARTIN G. HOFFMAN, OF MERRILL, AND JOHN H. HIEB, OF GRAND RAPIDS,'fWISCONSIN.

. AUTOMATIC FIRE-KINDLER.

SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 728,107, dated May 12,1903.

Application filed October 17, 1902- Serial No. 127,695. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MARTIN G. HOFFMAN,

residing at the city of Merrill, in the county of Lincoln, and JOHN H.HIEB, residing at the city of Grand Rapids, in the county of Wood, Stateof Wisconsin, citizens of the United States, (and whose jointpost-office address is Merrill, Lincoln county, Wisconsin,) haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fire- Kindlers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to fire-kindlers; and the object is to provide afire-kindler of improved kind which is associated With a time mechanism,whereby at a determined time ignition may be automatically accomplishedand the effects may be communicated to the kindling material as desiredand required.

The invention embodies the combination, with the alarm mechanism of aclock, of a fulminated and inflammable element ignited at a determinedmoment by the alarm mechanism, as will be hereinafter fully specifiedand the novelty thereof particularly pointed out form of the inventionin the accompanying drawings, to be taken as a part of thisspecification, and wherein-- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of atimepiece.

equipped with our improved fire-kindling mechanism and fuse. Fig. 2 is asectional vow of a portion of clock mechanism, showing a spring-armwhich bears the frictionplate on the fuse. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionof a portion of a clock mechanism, showing the friction plate or shoe,the friction-wheel, and the spring. Fig. fiis adetail perspective viewof the spring-actuated friction plate or shoe.

It will be premised that the invention is designed for attachment to thealarm mechanism of a clock and produces ignition of a fulmin'atearranged to communicate its effects to inflammable substances in afire-pot of a stove, range, or furnace. In the present instance afriction disk or pulley mounted on thearbor or shaft of the alarm-wheeland a spring-actuated shoe are utilized to eifect the purpose.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a as shown in the drawings.

clock casing or shell of a well-known type,

mechanism, are well known and need not be particularly described.

The shaft 2 is extended to reach a proper distance out from the back ofthe clock-case and has fixedly mounted on the projecting end a rotatoryfrictiondisk or pulley 5, the periphery of which may either be smooth ormilled or roughened, so the proper friction may be produced when rotatedin contact with a relatively stationary member.

To the .back plate of the clock is pivotally secured an arm or plateextending vertically and formed with a flange or shoe 6, the innersurface of which bears against the circumferential face of the rotatoryfriction-wheel 5, The arm or plate isextended above the shoe 6 andformed into a flat .disk portion 7, having a laterally-extendingfinger-piece 8 to afiord convenient manipulation. The disk affordsprotection to the back of the clock during the burning of the fulminate,and at a suitable point the arm is provided with an ear or lug 9.

On the setting-arbor 11 of the clock is mounted a spring 10, having onelimb or arm lodged against the Winding-arbor 4 of the clock and theother arm extended vertically and formed with a lateral extension lowhich projects through 'af'curved slot 10 in the back plate 'of theclock and engages in the lug 9 and holds the shoe 6, bearing in thedirection of the rotary disk or wheel 5, as indicated in the drawings.At the lower end the shoe 6 is formed with a rearward extension 11,having an open-end slot 12, wherein the end of the fuse is disposed andheld from slipping.

13 designates a strand of inflammable material supplied with aneasily-ignited'portion or fulminate at the part posited between thefriction disk and the shoe of the springpressed arm, and for the rest ofthe length the strand is saturated with a free-burning mined upon.

ingredient, so that when the fulminate is ignited the strand will be seton fire and the flame travel the length thereof to the point where theflames are utilized to ignite the material in the fire-pot.

To utilize the invention, the alarm is set to the time desired, and thenthe inflammable strand is disposed with its end in the slot 12 and thefulminated portion arranged between the shoe and the friction-disk, withthe strand having proper connection in the fire-box of the stove orother device in which a fire is to be enkindled. The clock may then beplaced in a desired position on the stove, and the enkindling will takeplace at the time deter- It will be observed that when the disk 5 isrotated and the fulminated strand is between the shoe and the disk thefulminate will be ignited and the flame will travel over the strand orfuse and eventually reach the fire-pot.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new isl.The combination with the alarm mechanism of a clock having the arbor ofits alarmwheel extended through the back plate, and a friction-disk onthe extended end of the arbor, of a pivotally-supported arm formed witha shoe to bear against the friction-disk and a protecting-disk at itsupper portion,

and a spring mounted Within the clock and formed with a lateralextension projecting through the back plate of the clock and engagingthe pivotally-supported arm to the shoe and the rotary friction-disk.

2. The combination with the alarm mechanism of a clock having the arborof its alarmwheel extended through the back plate, and a friction-diskon the projecting end of the arbor, of a pivotally-supported arm formedwith a shoe, a slotted extension at the lower end of the shoe, and abroadened upper protecting portion, and a spring mounted Within theclock and formed with a lateral extension projecting through the backplate of the clock and engaging the pivotally-supported arm to move ittoward the friction-disk.

In testimony whereof we affiX our respective signatures in the presenceof two witnesses for each signature as below indicated.

MARTIN G. HOFFMAN. JOHN H. HIEB.

Witnesses to signature of Martin G. Hoffman:

N. S. CURTIS, A. H. REID. Witnesses to signature of John II. Hieb:

W. J. CONWAY, GEO. H. METCALFE.

